Another week, another Xbox LIVE Arcade release. This time around, we’re getting RedLynx’s Trials HD for 1200 MSP.
Trials HD is a game of riding motorcycles through indoor obstacle courses. The game promises over 50 tracks split between Race mode and Skill mode, plus a level editor for creating and sharing. There are various unlockable motorcycles and customization options for the rider. Something that sounds borrowed from Geometry Wars 2 (and a feature I rather enjoyed) is an in-game Friend scoreboard for the various courses.
There’s really not all that much information available, so I did a little digging and found this footage of the editor in action:
Wow. So this one might have a lot of potential. Apparently Xbox Live Silver is all that’s required in order to take advantage of creating / sharing levels with this editor, so this should be good value for everyone.
As far as the rest of the game is concerned, it’s all done in 3D with various lighting effects and a very fancy physics engine, but the gameplay is pure 2D. The controls involve accelerating and braking with the triggers and leaning left and right with the analog stick in order to keep the motorcycle rider upright. Or to just make him do flips, tricks and other insanity, such as smashing him through sixteen plate glass windows – in a row.
This one really wasn’t on my radar (I’d never played the PC versions), but it’s very quickly moved into must-have territory.
Source: Major Nelson
Brad Petch has been playing games longer than most gamers have been alive. This does not mean he's good at them, or has good taste in them. Online interactions are not rated.